English idioms - numbers

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English idioms relating to
NUMBERS - AMOUNTS

All told All told means the final number when everything has been counted.
"The number of visitors to the exhibition, all told, was 2543."

In dribs and drabs If something comes in dribs and drabs, it arrives little by little, in
small amounts or numbers.
"Instead of the crowd that was expected, people arrived in dribs
and drabs."

Have one over the eight If a person has had one over the eight, they are slightly drunk.
"Don't listen to him. You can see he's had one over eight!"

At the eleventh hour If something happens at the eleventh hour, it happens when it is
almost too late, or at the last possible moment.
"Our team won after they scored a goal at the eleventh hour."

Fifth wheel This expression refers to a person who finds themselves in a situation
where their presence is unnecessary and as a result they feel useless.
"Everyone seemed to have a specific role except me. I felt like a fifth
   wheel."

First and foremost This expression is used to state what you consider to be more
important than anything else.
"First and foremost I want to thank our hosts for their wonderful
  reception."

First water Something that is of the first water is of the finest or most
exceptional quality (like being compared to a diamond).
"The violinist gave a performance that was of the first water."

First-hand/firsthand/at first hand If you experience something yourself directly, without any intermediary,
you experience it (at) first hand.
"Getting to see the performance (at) first hand is much better than
watching it on television."

Five o'clock shadow This expression refers to a patch of stubble on the face of a man
who hasn't shaved for at least a day.
"He looked tired and had a five o'clock shadow."

Have (or get) forty winks If you have forty winks, you have a short sleep or rest, generally
during the day.
"Dad likes to have forty winks after a game of golf."

On all fours If you are on all fours, you are down on your hands and knees.
"When I arrived, he was on all fours playing with his grandchildren."

Give or take (an amount or quantity) This term is used when expressing an amount or estimate that is
not exactly right. It means 'plus or minus', 'more or less',
'approximately'.
"The town is about 100 miles from here, give or take a few miles.

Half the battle This expression refers to a significant part of the effort or work
needed to achieve something.
"We've already obtained a loan for the project - that's half the battle."

Half an eye If you have or keep half an eye on something, you watch something
   without giving it your full attention.
  "She kept half en eye on the tv screen while she was preparing dinner."

A chance in a million A chance in a million is a very small chance or no chance at all that
something will happen.
"I was told that without a good level of English I had a chance in a million
of getting the job."

Look/feel like a million dollars If you look/feel like a million dollars, you look/feel extremely good.
"With a tan and a new hairstyle, she looked like a million dollars."

Never in a million years This expression means "absolutely never"
"I will never in a million years understand why Anne married Bob."

Nine-day wonder An event which is a nine-day wonder causes interest, surprise or
excitement for a short time, but it doesn't last.
"His sudden departure was a nine-day wonder but he was soon forgotten."

Nine times out of ten When something happens nine times out of ten, it almost always
happens.
"The public transport system is very bad. Trains arrive late nine times
   out of ten."

Be on cloud nine A person who is on cloud nine is very happy because something
wonderful has happened.
"When the boss announced my promotion, I was on cloud nine!"

Dressed up to the nines To describe someone as dressed up to the nines means that they are
wearing very smart or glamorous clothes.
"Caroline musts be going to a party - she's dressed up to the nines!"

Talk nineteen to the dozen
If someone talks nineteen to the dozen, they speak very quickly.
"He was talking nineteen to the dozen so I didn't catch the whole story!"

Number cruncher This is a humorous way of referring to someone who is an accountant
or who is very good at working with numbers and calculations.
"She's a number cruncher who perfectly understands the organization's
financial situation."

Safety in numbers

This expression means that being part of a group makes people feel
more secure and more confident when taking action.
  "None of the group went sightseeing alone, knowing that there was
safety in numbers."

One fell swoop If something is accomplished at one fell swoop, it is done in a single
action, usually rapidly and ruthlessly.
"The three houses were demolished at one fell swoop."

One foot in the grave A person who is either very old or very ill and close to death is said
to have one foot in the grave.
"It's no use talking to the owner. The poor man has got one foot in
the grave."

One good turn deserves another This expression means that if someone helps you, it is natural and
right to help them in return.
"We helped Alex and Sara when they moved into their new house,
just as they helped us last year; one good turn deserves another."

One hand washes the other...
(... and together they wash the face.) This expression means that when people cooperate and work well
together, there is a better chance of achieving results.

One-horse town A place referred to as a one-horse town is a small, boring town
where nothing much ever happens.
"I wish my grandparents didn't live in that one-horse town. It's such
a boring place!"

One over the eight. If a person has had one over the eight, they are slightly drunk
"Don't listen to him. You can see he's had one over eight!"

One step ahead When you are one step ahead of someone else, you manage to
achieve something faster than they do, or you have a slight
advantage over them.
"The company is successful because they're always one step
ahead of their competitors."

One-track mind If you have a one-track mind, you have a tendency to think about
only one subject.
"That boy has got a one-track mind; all he thinks about is football!"

One too many Someone who has had one too many has drunk too much alcohol.
"I think Tony's had one too many - he's talking rubbish!"

One's number is up To say that one's number is up means that a person is either in
serious difficulty and something bad is going to happen, or the time
has come when they will die.
"The police have located the escaped prisoner so it looks as if his
number is up!"

One-upmanship This term refers to the art of gaining and keeping the advantage over
other people.
"He is a successful man, but his one-upmanship has left him with
few friends."

Look out for number one If you take care of yourself first and look after your own interests
rather than those of other people, you look out for number one.
"Andy's father told him that looking out for number one should be
his first priority."

Second to none To say that something is second to none means that it is excellent -
better than everything else.
"The service was perfect and the food was second to none."

Be in seventh heaven If you are in seventh heaven, you are extremely happy.
"Every time she wins a match she's in seventh heaven!"

Six of one and half a dozen of the other This expression means that there's no real difference between two
choices; both are equally good or equally bad.

At sixes and sevens If someone is at sixes and sevens, they are in a a state of confusion
or not very well organized.

A thousand times This expresses exasperation at having to constantly repeat the
same thing.
"I've told you a thousand times to wipe your feet before coming in!"

Catch twenty two A catch 22 situation refers to a frustrating situation where you need
to do one thing before doing a second, and you cannot do the second
before doing the first.
"I can't get a job without a work permit, and I can't get a work permit
without a job. It's a catch 22 situation!"

Two of a kind People who are two of a kind are similar in character, attitude or
   tastes.
"Pete and Tom are two of a kind. They enjoy sports and are both very
competitive."

Lesser of two evils If you choose the lesser of two evils, you opt for the less
unpleasant of two poor options.
"I didn't want to go. Choosing the train instead of driving was the
lesser of two evils; at least I could relax on the way."

That makes two of us! This expression is used to indicate agreement with what the other
speaker has just said.
"I found his speech rather boring." "That makes two of us "

There are no two ways about it To say that there are no two ways about it means that there is
  only one suitable way of dealing with something.
  "There's no two ways about it. You can't accept the money, so you
  must give it back."

Two can play at that game. This expression is used to tell someone that you can behave
towards them in the same unpleasant way that they have been
behaving towards you.

Two's company ... (three's a crowd) This is said of two people, particularly lovers, who would prefer
to be alone together than to have someone else with them.
"Would you like to come to the cinema with us?"
"I'd rather not, thanks. Two's company..."

Two left feet If you have two left feet, you are clumsy or awkward in your
movements.
"I'm not a great dancer. I'm afraid I've got two left feet!"

In two minds If you are in two minds about something, you have difficulty deciding
what to do.
"I'm in two minds about whether or not to accept the offer."

Two peas in a pod To say that two people are like two peas in a pod means that they
are very similar in appearance.
"It wasn't difficult to identify the brothers - they were like two peas
in a pod!"

Two shakes (of a lamb's tail) To do something in two shakes (of a lamb's tail) means
to do it very quickly or in a moment.
"It'll be ready in two shakes (of a lamb's tail)."

It takes two to tango You say this when you think that a difficult situation or argument
cannot be the fault of one person alone
"OK, we've heard Jack's side of the story - but it takes two to tango!"

Put two and two together To put two and two together means to guess the truth about a situation
based on what you see or the information that you have.
"When she saw Tom and Julie holding hands, she had no difficulty putting two
and two together!"

Zero in on something If you zero in on something, you focus all your attention on that
particular thing.
"The boss immediately zeroed in on the sales figures."

copyright © k.beke. all rights reserved.

more idioms               home

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English idioms relating to NUMBERS - AMOUNTS
All told	All told means the final number when everything has been counted. "The number of visitors to the exhibition, all told, was 2543."
In dribs and drabs	If something comes in dribs and drabs, it arrives little by little, in small amounts or numbers. "Instead of the crowd that was expected, people arrived in dribs and drabs."
Have one over the eight	If a person has had one over the eight, they are slightly drunk. "Don't listen to him. You can see he's had one over eight!"
At the eleventh hour	If something happens at the eleventh hour, it happens when it is almost too late, or at the last possible moment. "Our team won after they scored a goal at the eleventh hour."
Fifth wheel	This expression refers to a person who finds themselves in a situation where their presence is unnecessary and as a result they feel useless. "Everyone seemed to have a specific role except me. I felt like a fifth wheel."
First and foremost	This expression is used to state what you consider to be more important than anything else. "First and foremost I want to thank our hosts for their wonderful reception."
First water	Something that is of the first water is of the finest or most exceptional quality (like being compared to a diamond). "The violinist gave a performance that was of the first water."
First-hand/firsthand/at first hand	If you experience something yourself directly, without any intermediary, you experience it (at) first hand. "Getting to see the performance (at) first hand is much better than watching it on television."
Five o'clock shadow	This expression refers to a patch of stubble on the face of a man who hasn't shaved for at least a day. "He looked tired and had a five o'clock shadow."
Have (or get) forty winks	If you have forty winks, you have a short sleep or rest, generally during the day. "Dad likes to have forty winks after a game of golf."
On all fours	If you are on all fours, you are down on your hands and knees. "When I arrived, he was on all fours playing with his grandchildren."
Give or take (an amount or quantity)	This term is used when expressing an amount or estimate that is not exactly right. It means 'plus or minus', 'more or less', 'approximately'. "The town is about 100 miles from here, give or take a few miles.
Half the battle	This expression refers to a significant part of the effort or work needed to achieve something. "We've already obtained a loan for the project - that's half the battle."
Half an eye	If you have or keep half an eye on something, you watch something without giving it your full attention. "She kept half en eye on the tv screen while she was preparing dinner."
A chance in a million	A chance in a million is a very small chance or no chance at all that something will happen. "I was told that without a good level of English I had a chance in a million of getting the job."
Look/feel like a million dollars	If you look/feel like a million dollars, you look/feel extremely good. "With a tan and a new hairstyle, she looked like a million dollars."
Never in a million years	This expression means "absolutely never" "I will never in a million years understand why Anne married Bob."
Nine-day wonder	An event which is a nine-day wonder causes interest, surprise or excitement for a short time, but it doesn't last. "His sudden departure was a nine-day wonder but he was soon forgotten."
Nine times out of ten	When something happens nine times out of ten, it almost always happens. "The public transport system is very bad. Trains arrive late nine times out of ten."
Be on cloud nine	A person who is on cloud nine is very happy because something wonderful has happened. "When the boss announced my promotion, I was on cloud nine!"
Dressed up to the nines	To describe someone as dressed up to the nines means that they are wearing very smart or glamorous clothes. "Caroline musts be going to a party - she's dressed up to the nines!"
Talk nineteen to the dozen	If someone talks nineteen to the dozen, they speak very quickly. "He was talking nineteen to the dozen so I didn't catch the whole story!"
Number cruncher	This is a humorous way of referring to someone who is an accountant or who is very good at working with numbers and calculations. "She's a number cruncher who perfectly understands the organization's financial situation."
Safety in numbers	This expression means that being part of a group makes people feel more secure and more confident when taking action. "None of the group went sightseeing alone, knowing that there was safety in numbers."
One fell swoop	If something is accomplished at one fell swoop, it is done in a single action, usually rapidly and ruthlessly. "The three houses were demolished at one fell swoop."
One foot in the grave	A person who is either very old or very ill and close to death is said to have one foot in the grave. "It's no use talking to the owner. The poor man has got one foot in the grave."
One good turn deserves another	This expression means that if someone helps you, it is natural and right to help them in return. "We helped Alex and Sara when they moved into their new house, just as they helped us last year; one good turn deserves another."
One hand washes the other... (... and together they wash the face.)	This expression means that when people cooperate and work well together, there is a better chance of achieving results.
One-horse town	A place referred to as a one-horse town is a small, boring town where nothing much ever happens. "I wish my grandparents didn't live in that one-horse town. It's such a boring place!"
One over the eight.	If a person has had one over the eight, they are slightly drunk "Don't listen to him. You can see he's had one over eight!"
One step ahead	When you are one step ahead of someone else, you manage to achieve something faster than they do, or you have a slight advantage over them. "The company is successful because they're always one step ahead of their competitors."
One-track mind	If you have a one-track mind, you have a tendency to think about only one subject. "That boy has got a one-track mind; all he thinks about is football!"
One too many	Someone who has had one too many has drunk too much alcohol. "I think Tony's had one too many - he's talking rubbish!"
One's number is up	To say that one's number is up means that a person is either in serious difficulty and something bad is going to happen, or the time has come when they will die. "The police have located the escaped prisoner so it looks as if his number is up!"
One-upmanship	This term refers to the art of gaining and keeping the advantage over other people. "He is a successful man, but his one-upmanship has left him with few friends."
Look out for number one	If you take care of yourself first and look after your own interests rather than those of other people, you look out for number one. "Andy's father told him that looking out for number one should be his first priority."
Second to none	To say that something is second to none means that it is excellent - better than everything else. "The service was perfect and the food was second to none."
Be in seventh heaven	If you are in seventh heaven, you are extremely happy. "Every time she wins a match she's in seventh heaven!"
Six of one and half a dozen of the other	This expression means that there's no real difference between two choices; both are equally good or equally bad.
At sixes and sevens	If someone is at sixes and sevens, they are in a a state of confusion or not very well organized.
A thousand times	This expresses exasperation at having to constantly repeat the same thing. "I've told you a thousand times to wipe your feet before coming in!"
Catch twenty two	A catch 22 situation refers to a frustrating situation where you need to do one thing before doing a second, and you cannot do the second before doing the first. "I can't get a job without a work permit, and I can't get a work permit without a job. It's a catch 22 situation!"
Two of a kind	People who are two of a kind are similar in character, attitude or tastes. "Pete and Tom are two of a kind. They enjoy sports and are both very competitive."
Lesser of two evils	If you choose the lesser of two evils, you opt for the less unpleasant of two poor options. "I didn't want to go. Choosing the train instead of driving was the lesser of two evils; at least I could relax on the way."
That makes two of us!	This expression is used to indicate agreement with what the other speaker has just said. "I found his speech rather boring." "That makes two of us "
There are no two ways about it	To say that there are no two ways about it means that there is only one suitable way of dealing with something. "There's no two ways about it. You can't accept the money, so you must give it back."
Two can play at that game.	This expression is used to tell someone that you can behave towards them in the same unpleasant way that they have been behaving towards you.
Two's company ... (three's a crowd)	This is said of two people, particularly lovers, who would prefer to be alone together than to have someone else with them. "Would you like to come to the cinema with us?" "I'd rather not, thanks. Two's company..."
Two left feet	If you have two left feet, you are clumsy or awkward in your movements. "I'm not a great dancer. I'm afraid I've got two left feet!"
In two minds	If you are in two minds about something, you have difficulty deciding what to do. "I'm in two minds about whether or not to accept the offer."
Two peas in a pod	To say that two people are like two peas in a pod means that they are very similar in appearance. "It wasn't difficult to identify the brothers - they were like two peas in a pod!"
Two shakes (of a lamb's tail)	To do something in two shakes (of a lamb's tail) means to do it very quickly or in a moment. "It'll be ready in two shakes (of a lamb's tail)."
It takes two to tango	You say this when you think that a difficult situation or argument cannot be the fault of one person alone "OK, we've heard Jack's side of the story - but it takes two to tango!"
Put two and two together	To put two and two together means to guess the truth about a situation based on what you see or the information that you have. "When she saw Tom and Julie holding hands, she had no difficulty putting two and two together!"
Zero in on something	If you zero in on something, you focus all your attention on that particular thing. "The boss immediately zeroed in on the sales figures."

copyright © k.beke. all rights reserved. more idioms home